Review of "Rafmögnuð Reykjavík - Electronica Reykjavik" Music Documentary

I"ve seen this documentary on my last full day in Iceland this year together with Ellen, Heida & Alexandra. It was for free for the people with an Airwaves Pass.
Rafmögnuð Reykjavík - Electronica Reykjavik
Review @ Hair Entertainment by Valur Gunnarsson

Director: Arnar Jónasson - 2008 (55 min)
The Golden Years
The film Rock in Reykjavik is without a doubt the most legendary film in Icelandic rock history. Documenting the unique Icelandic punk scene in the early 80‘s, it played a part in launching the career of both Björk and the other members of the Sugarcubes, as well as Oscar nominated director Friðrik Þór Friðriksson.
Many attempts have been made to emulate it, such as the 1996 film Pop in Reykjavik, and the more Recent Screaming Masterpiece. None, however, have come close. That is, until this year‘s Reykjavik Electronica. The film in many ways resembles its punk predecessor, although the focus here is on the rave scene of the early 90‘s. And while Rokk i Reykjavik was very much caught up in the moment, Electronica takes a wider historical perspective, drawing on a decade and a half of material.
The Icelandic punk scene reached its zenith around five years after its predecessor in London, but by the early 90‘s the scene in Iceland seemed to be never more than five weeks behind its sources of inspiration. The world had grown so much smaller in course of a decade that Reykjavik could lay claim to being the party capital of Europe. Björk‘s success had a lot to do with this, but the underground electronic musicians of Reykjavik also played their part. And just like the punks ten years earlier, they were hellbent on recreating the world in their own image.
In the early 90’s, while grungers and Britpoppers did their best to emulate their 60‘s and 70‘s heroes, the electronica scene seemed to be creating something entirely new. And just like in the late 60‘s, when every month seemed to bring out a new subgenre such as Acid Rock, Folk Rock, Country Rock, one now had a hard time keeping up with the even the names of various styles; Techno, Drum’n’Bass, Jungle. Much like Rock, however, electronic music went through a revolutionary phase and then seems to have largely stagnated. Most of its early practitioners are now reaching middle age. If the 90‘s were the 60‘s for electronic music, we are now in the late 70‘s, and it is perhaps time for electronica to be entering its punk phase and reinvent itself. Or perhaps it has played that card already, since it was always in some ways inspired by punk to begin with. In any case, the film Electronica Reykjavik is a valuable document of a time when it really did seem possible that Reykjavik would take its place among the capitals of the world. Now we know better.
Source:
www.hairentertainment.com/ElectronicaReykjavik

More information @ Zik Zak site:
www.zikzak.is/electronica-reykjavik
Trailer

SYNOPSIS
Electronica Reykjavik is the story of a revolution in music. The electronic and house music of the late 80´s and early 90´s has made and affected a whole generation of musicians. A scene of mostly underground and avant-garde Icelandic electronic artists emerged, many of which are portrayed in the film. Be prepared for the deepest rhythms of nature and above all a very sexy party.
Featuring highly rare footage from the early days of Dance music as well as artists such as Anonymous, Biogen, Gus Gus, Ghostigital and many more.
GENERAL INFO
Original title: Rafmögnuð Reykjavík
Director/Scriptwriter: Arnar Jónasson
Editor: Kristján Loðmfjörð
Sound design : Björn Viktorsson, Steingrímur Eyfjörð & Bogi Reynisson
Original language: Icelandic (English version)
Type of film: Music Documentary
Domestic release: 27. September 2008 @ RIFF
Executive Producers: Skúli Fr. Malmquist & Þórir Snær Sigurjónsson
Producers: Grímar Jónsson & Arnar Jónasson
Co-producer: Hlín Jóhannesdóttir
Production company: Zik Zak Filmworks
Format: Beta SP, DVD
Running time: 50 min
Sound: Dolby 5.1 or Stereo
World Sales: Zik Zak Filmworks
Territories sold: Iceland
CAST
Artists: Gus Gus, DJ Grétar - Grétar Gunnarsson, DJ Frímann – Frímann Andrésson, Thor - Þórhallur Skúlason, Biggi Veira - Birgir Þórarinsson, DJ Maggi Legó - Magnús Guðmundsson, Anonymous - Marlon Pollock og Tanya Pollock, DJ Agzilla - Agnar Agnarsson, Biogen - Sigurbjörn Þorgrímsson, Hermigervill - Sveinbjörn Thorarensen, Frank Murder - Þorgeir Frímann Óðinsson, Earth - Urður Hákonardóttir, Curver Thoroddsen, Einar Örn Benediktsson, President Bongo - Stephan Stephensen…